Exclamation marks are also used in the poem. This is used to add to the noise of words in most circumstances when one of the characters is shouting. An example of this is when ‘Aie!’ is shouted. The exclamation mark is there to emphasize the shout and also to show the spontaneity of the cry.
Verbs are also used in the poem. Examples of these are, ‘outspread’, ‘pushed’ and ‘reached back and forth.’ They are used to enhance the theme of movement as most of them are talking about movement in the poem. Also lots of verbs are used to show off the movement in the piece and to show of the action and fighting in the battle.
Another device used is similes. They are used in the piece to emphasize certain points about the poem. They are also used to make a comparison. These are help for because it helps emphasize the important factors with in the poem.
During the poem, the mood changes substantially and there are a few reasons for this. In the poem, the mood changes near the end of the poem, when it says ‘But when he noticed it he.’ A reason for this is because it changes from talking about a physically massive man fighting in a battle to him fleeing from the battle. Therefore a change in the mood occurs because there is such a change between the content of the poem. The poem therefore changes in content from a very fast action packed poem to a slower and more miserable mood. This is because, when Ajax flees, its like all hope flees with him as he then knows that God is not on his side in the battle. This shows the ideas of religion and fate being very important in the poem.
The conclusion of the poem use humour. It says ‘and, sensibly enough, he fled. The ship was burned.’ There is a humour used in this in a number of ways. Firstly informal expressions are used. And example of this is ‘sensibly enough.’ It also creates humour as its almost laughing at Ajax and his coward ness in defeat. Also it laughs at him because the sensibly enough is quite cynical in the sense that he had very little brain so may not have been sensible enough to flee.
The second of the two poems is ‘Dulce et Decorum Est.’ This was written by Wilfred Owen in early 1918. It talks about the battlefield in the First World War. The poem had a subtitle ‘To a Certain Poeters’, it was also addressed to Miss Jessie Pope, whose patriotic verse was widely read at that time.
This poem is fairly similar to the first in using onomatopoeia. This is because in both, onomatopoeia is used to create sound imagery. In this poem though, it is also used to and more predominantly used to create visual imagery. This is the words that are onomatopoeic are there to show that the soldiers are not physically fit and are slowly lifting one foot after the other. The words that show this are ‘hoots’, ‘trudge’ and ‘gargling’.
Alliteration is used in the same way in this poem as in the last. An example of alliteration in this poem is ‘bent…beggars.’ This is used to create a fast up beat tempo with in the piece. This is desired to be done as the poem is about the frantic fight for survival and horrific conditions they were going through on the battlefield which requires an up beat pace to have the best impact on the reader.
Exclamations are also used in this poem and again similarly to the previous one. An example of exclamations in this poem is ‘Gas! Gas! Quick, boys!’ The monosyllables and exclamations are used for a number of reasons. Firstly, the exclamations are used to create noise and panic. The monosyllables are used to create a sudden attack and danger effect. All of this is needed because in the poem they are attacked by gas so panic and sudden danger are key things to highlight in the poem.
Verbs are also used in the poem. Examples of these are, ‘fumbling’, ‘stumbling’ and ‘drowning.’ Although, they are used slightly different in this poem than the previous one. This is because instead of being used to enhance the theme, they are used to describe what is happening in much more detail and make it more horrific. They also help create imagery of what’s happening for the reader.
Another device used is similes. They are used in the piece to emphasize certain points about the poem, similarly in the last poem. They are also used like the verbs to create a much more in detail account of what’s happening and it also helps create the horrific imagery of what’s happening.
Metaphors are used in this poem. An example is ‘drunk with fatigue.’ These are used again to emphasize the point and to add in description rather like similes and the verbs. It is also used to create imagery of the horrific seen again rather like the similes and verbs.
Also, in this poem there are things with different layers of meanings. An example of this is ‘distant rest.’ One why this could be interpreted is that the distant rest is the end of the battle or even the end of the war. And layer of meaning is that the distant rest is death rather than the end of the war. The final layer could be that it refers to the point at which he stops having nightmares about the events and manages to forget about the war.
During the poem, the mood changes substantially and there are a few reasons for this. The change in this poem comes nearer the start of the poem. The mood changes just after the first stanza where it says ‘Gas! Gas! Quick boys! In complete contrast to the previous poem, this one goes from melancholy and a slow pace, to a very fast, frantic mood. The mood needs to change in this way at this time because this is when the soldiers become in danger and the panic begins, causing the up beat anxious mood.
The conclusion of this poem is also very different to the other. The conclusion says ‘children’ and ‘some desperate glory’. These emphasize their soldier’s age and the naivety of the soldiers for believing the government propaganda about the war and having a lack of awareness. All of this is challenging the morals of the war. Also, most of the last lines are very short, this gives them impact on the reader. It says at the end the full title, ‘Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.’ This means it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country, this is very ironic seeing as the poem talks about the low and ugly parts about the war and death.
